Utility case for vehicle unlocking tools

ABSTRACT

A tool case for storing and transporting a variety of tools such as vehicle unlocking tools. The case includes a base and lid hinged together, the base and lid each having panels. The inner panels have an arrangement of multi-level elongated tool receiving channels and recessed cavities. The channels and cavities are arranged to have different selected depths and also to intersect as needed, so that tools or other items can be stored in the case in a compact layered configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tool cases and more particularly toa case for vehicle unlocking tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many occasions exist in which legal entry into a locked vehicle isdesired or necessary without the use of a key. This can occur becausethe keys may have been left inside the vehicle with the doors locked, ora malfunction in an electronic door locking mechanism, or a key breakingoff in the lock. In other instances, locked and illegally parkedvehicles may have to be entered by police or tow truck operators toenable the vehicle to be towed away. In still other instances, it may benecessary for legal authorities to enter locked vehicles to make legalsearches for contraband or explosives, to investigate crimes or in somecases, to enable the automobiles to be moved out of the way of othervehicles in the case of emergencies and natural disasters.

Tools for opening locked vehicle doors are varied in size, shape andconfiguration, and such tools have been evolving over the years. Changesin vehicle door design and vehicle locking mechanisms over the lastseveral decades necessitate a variety of vehicle unlocking tool designsto accommodate the variety of doors and locking mechanisms. For example,one common tool for door linkage manipulation to unlock a car known asthe “Slim Jim” has been used for many years. The Slim Jim is a slender,flat strip of metal with a notch cut in one end. By slipping this toolbetween the doors weather stripping and window, the lock linkage can bemanipulated to open the lock.

Another example of such varied designs for vehicle unlocking tools isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,061 issued to Applicant herein whichtool comprises a slender, stiff rod formed having a tight U-bend whichdefines an elongate, first leg portion and a shorter, second leg portionwhich has at its upper end a relatively large, inverted U-shaped portionwith a relatively short depending third leg which terminates in a shorthook. The three legs lie substantially in a common plane. The tool isinserted between the window and weather stripping and manipulated underthe window and into the car interior until the short hook engages the adoor lock switch or lever on the door panel and is further manipulatedto unlock the door.

Other vehicle unlocking tools know as “long reach tools” have beendeveloped to work vehicle locking mechanisms from inside the passengercompartment rather than from inside the door cavity. Illustrations ofsuch long reach tools are shown in Applicant's pending patentapplication Ser. No. 11/602,649 entitled Unlocking Tool for Vehicle. Asone example, such a tool includes two rod sections which are coupledtogether, one rod section having a handle for manipulating the overallrod tool and the other rod section having an end portion that is used topush or pull or otherwise manipulate a lock actuator. The first rodsection may be stiffer than the second rod section which is made to beflexible to avoid scratching the interior of the car, such as the doorpanels, seats or dash but still has sufficient stiffness to transfer theforce necessary to unlock the door. Additional sections may be added tothe rod to lengthen its reach as needed by the tool operator.

In practice therefore, an automotive road side service provider,locksmith, or law enforcement officer who responds to situations where avehicle must be unlocked needs a variety of such vehicle unlocking toolsto work with the particular vehicle to be unlocked. It is not uncommonfor such operators to carry combinations of such vehicle unlocking toolson the order of twelve to eighteen pieces. Storing and carrying such avariety of vehicle unlocking tools in an organized manner wherein theyare easily accessible can be challenging. Presently, a common mode forstoring such tools might be a large open box or conventional tool boxwherein all the tools are simply thrown in together. With such a storageand transportation means, readily finding tools or even misplacing orlosing tools can be a problem. Accordingly, it would be desirable tohave an arrangement for storing and transporting a variety of vehicleunlocking tools that is simple and compact and provides goodaccessibility to the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a case for use in containing andtransporting a variety of tools but in particular vehicle unlockingtools. The case may comprise a case half which has an inner surfaceportion. The inner surface portion of the case half has first and secondchannels formed therein which are each sized and shaped to receive aselected vehicle tool. The two channels cross at one location on theinner surface portion. Further, the first channel has a first depth andthe second channel has a second depth which is greater than the firstdepth of the first channel such that a tool placed in the first channeloverlies a tool placed in the second channel where the two channelscross. The channels may have protruding nubs along their extent arrangedto retain tools placed therein. There may also be one or more additionalchannels in the case half inner surface portion which are designed toaccommodate additional tools of various configurations. These channelswhich may have different depths and may be arranged on the inner surfaceportion to meet or cross and provide layered over placement of tools inthe case such as vehicle unlocking tools.

Another addition to case half may include a recessed cavity whichintersects at least one of the channels. The cavity is deeper than theintersecting channel allowing objects to be placed in this recessedcavity and underlie a tool placed in the intersecting channel. Therecessed cavity can thus accommodate a tool or manual or other item. Itmay also have a rectangular cross-section to receive a book type owner'smanual.

In a further embodiment, the case half inner surface portion have mayhave a downwardly sloping wall portion with a two or more channels. Thechannels allow two or more elongated rods, such as those of long reachtools, to be stored in the case half and conveniently accessed anneeded. The inner surface portion of the case half may also be made frommolded plastic.

The case allows tools, such as vehicle unlocking tools, to be stored andtransported, used and restored conveniently. As such, a vehicleunlocking tool kit can be assembled and can be carried in a compactoutfit and provide sufficient tooling flexibility for the operator tounlock a wide variety of vehicles.

There is thereby provided an effective, yet relatively inexpensive casefor tools including vehicle unlocking tools. Other advantages andfeatures of the present invention will become apparent for the followingdetailed description of the invention, from the claims and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 are front views of a prior art vehicle lock opening toolsincluding an owner's booklet;

FIG. 2 are front views of other vehicle lock opening tools, some ofwhich are described in the above co-pending application;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exterior of a tool case in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tool case shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the tool case in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the tool case with the base and lid of the toolcase shown in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a view of the inside panel of the lid of the tool caseillustrating its tool receiving channels;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the inside panel of the lid shown in FIG. 7 withtools inserted in the lid receiving channels;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the inside panel of the lid of the tool casewith additional tool receiving channels;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the inside panel of the lid shown in FIG. 9with tools inserted in the lid tool receiving channels;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the inside panel of the lid of the tool casewith a cavity added;

FIG. 11 a is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the tool case takenalong line 11 a-11 a of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 b is a partial cross-sectional view of the lid of the tool casetaken along line 11 b-11 b showing the cross-section of one of the toolreceiving channels;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the inside panel of the lid shown in FIG. 11with tools and other objects inserted;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the inside panel of the base of the tool caseillustrating another tool receiving channel arrangement;

FIG. 13 a is a partial cross-sectional view of the base of the tool caseshowing the channel arrangement of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the inside panel of the base of the tool casewith a cavity added;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the inside panel of the base of the tool caseshown in FIG. 14 with tools inserted into the base;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the inside panels of the lid and base of thetool case illustrating various tool receiving channels and cavitiesincluding a cavity to store vehicle door unlocking tool wedges;

FIG. 16 a is a cross-sectional view of the tool case shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the inside panels of the lid and base of thetool case with the inner panel of the base loaded with vehicle unlockinglong reach tools and the lid with an owner's booklet; and

FIG. 18 is a top view of the inside panels of the lid and base of thetool case with both the lid and base loaded with vehicle unlockingtools.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 3-6a tool case 20 which is generally rectangularly shaped with a handle 22pivotally mounted to the front side 24 of the case. The tool case 20 hasa lid 30 attached, for example, by two hinges 32 to a base 34. The lid30 and base 34 are secured at the front by two clasps 36. Preferably,the tool case lid and base are made entirely of plastic.

The base 34 and lid 30 define rectangular openings 40 and 42 with innerrectangularly shaped inner surface portions or panels 44 and 46,respectively, which panels are shown with more particularity in FIGS. 7and 13 respectively. The inner panels of the lid and base will house avariety of selected tools such as vehicle unlocking tools. For example,as shown with more particularity in FIG. 7, panel 46 in the lid of thetool case 20 is shown having two elongated channels or grooves, a firstelongated channel designated by reference number 50 and a secondelongated channel designated by reference number 52. The first andsecond channels are sized and shaped for receiving two different vehicleunlocking tools. The particular vehicle unlocking tools to be housed inthese channels are illustrated in FIG. 2 designated by referencenumerals 1 and 2 and are long rod members configured to work a door lockfrom outside a car. As can be seen in FIG. 7, channels 50 and 52 crossor meet at two locations in the lid panel 46. In this example, channel50 has a first depth and the second channel 52 has a second depthwherein the second depth of the second channel is selected to be greateror deeper than the first depth of the first channel. This allows a toolsuch as the vehicle unlocking tool 2 placed in the first channel 50 tooverlie or cross over a tool such as vehicle unlocking tool 1 placed inthe second channel 52. This unique multi-level and crossing patternchannel arrangement allows long odd configured tools, such as is typicalwith vehicle unlocking tools, to be placed, stored and transported in astacked arrangement and thus more compactly packaged together. This canbe more readily seen in FIG. 8 with tools 1 and 2 shown inserted intotheir respective channels 50 and 52, tool 2 seated in the shallowerchannel crosses over tool 1 placed in a deeper channel.

More channels can be added to the inner panel 46 of the lid 30 forstoring additional tools, such as third and fourth channels 60 and 62,as illustrated with more particularity in FIG. 9. In this example,channel 60 is sized and shaped to receive another vehicle unlocking toolwhich is illustrated in FIG. 2 as long rod tool 3. The third channel 60crosses the first channel 50 at about the mid-section of the innerpanel. The depth of this third channel 60 is selected deeper than thefirst channel 50 so that the tool to be placed in third channel willtraverse under the tool to be placed in the first channel 50. The fourthchannel 62 in the inner panel is shown in FIG. 9 as rectangularly shapedelongated channel. In this example, the fourth channel 62 is designed toreceive a tool commonly known as a “Slim Jim” vehicle unlocking toolwhich is shown in FIG. 2 and is designated by reference numeral 4. Thedepth of this fourth channel 62 is selected deeper than the firstchannel 50 so that the “Slim Jim” tool 4 will cross under the tool 2 atthe two points where the first and fourth channels meet. FIG. 10illustrates all of the four tools 1-4 placed into their respectivechannels 50, 52, 60 and 62. As shown, with the tools 1, 3 and 4 placedinto their deeper channels, tool 2 placed in its shallower channelscrosses over all these tools.

While in this example four channels are illustrated, namely three deeperelongated channels and one shallower elongated channel to achieve adesired tool stacking scheme for the particular tools in the example, itis understood that any number of channels at varying depths iscontemplated by this invention as may be needed to store a selection oftools in a panel of the tool case.

As a further feature to the inner panel of the lid, a cavity 66 may beadded to the panel as shown in FIG. 11. In this example, cavity 66 isdeeper than the four channels 50, 52, 60 and 62 and is centered in themid-section area of the inner panel 46 and thus intercepts all fourchannels. The cavity 66 in this example is also rectangularly shapedwhich provides an area in the lid for receiving and storing flatrectangularly shaped items such as a manual for using the tools. Such amanual is shown in FIG. 2 and designated by reference number 5. Arectangulary vehicle unlocking door jam protection shield 6 is alsoshown in FIG. 2. FIG. 12 shows the manual 5 and the door jam protectionshield 6 stowed one on top of the other in the rectangulary cavity 66and the tools 1 through 4 stored in their respective channels over themanual and shield. The multi-layered layered channels and cavity allowstacking of a number of items, which in this example is tool 2 stackedover tools 1, 3 and 4 which in turn are stacked over the manual 5 andshield 6.

FIG. 11 a which is a cross-sectional view of the lid including the fourchannels and the cavity, shows more clearly the different depths orlevels of the channels and the cavity. The channels 52 and 62 are at thedeepest level with channel 60 at an intermediate level and channel 50 atthe shallowest level. See FIG. 16 a. As explained, this multi-levelchannel arrangement allows the tool placed in channel 50 to cross overthe tools placed in the other three deeper channels. In this example,tool 2 has a broad extent and with the unique channel arrangementprovided by the principles of the invention, allows the three othertools with smaller extent to be stacked under tool 2. FIG. 11 a alsoillustrates a cross-sectional view of the cavity 66. The cavity providesa deeper area for additional items to be stacked under the tools in thetool receiving channels. This is a good area to store other tools ormanuals or other items, for example.

The channels or grooves illustrated in the lid panel may have variouscross-sectional sizes and shapes to receive tools of differentconfigurations and cross-sections. Where the tools are elongated rodshaped vehicle unlocking tools such as tools 1, 2, 3 and 4, the crosssection of the channels for these exemplary tools may have a rectangularconfiguration or U-shaped configuration. As shown with moreparticularity in FIG. 11 b, a flat bottomed rectangularly shaped channelis used to house the tools in this example. Also, as shown in FIG. 11 b,the tools in the lid are held in place in the channel by inwardlyextending resilient nubs or tabs 68 located at the top of the channelsas shown. Such nubs 68 may be spaced along each of the channels in thelid 30 as needed to hold a tool in place. This allows the lid to beopened and closed and transported with the tools held in place.

The inner panel 44 of the base 34 is illustrated in FIG. 13. This innerpanel 44 shows an additional structural feature tool for storingstraight rod tools in the tool case. In this example, the base innerpanel 44 is shown having four channels 70, 71, 72 and 73, which channelsare arranged lengthwise along the extent if a downwardly sloped panel 76of the inner base panel 44 in a downwardly spaced cascading manner asshown with more particularity in FIG. 13 a. These channels arepreferably shaped to grip the rods to retain the elongated rod placed inthe channels during transport of the tool case. In this example, thechannels slightly cup over the top half of the rod to cup the rod in thechannels. Also, the channels 70 through 73 may be partial channels (asshown in FIG. 14); that is, they can be short pairs of channels. Thiscascading channel arrangement is particularly advantageous for storingtools known in the vehicle unlocking tool art as long reach tools whichlong reach tools are illustrated in FIG. 2 by reference numbers 7through 11.

Also, other additional storing features in the base inner panel 44,shown with more particularity in FIG. 14, are cavity 80 and twoelongated channels 82 and 84 which channels traverse the extent of thepanel 44. The cavity 80 is the deepest portion of the panel 44 andprovides an area to store selected items such as the items designated inFIG. 2 by reference numbers 14 (pump wedge) and 15 (thin door frameprotector). The channels 82 and 84 have two different depths and meet orcross as shown in FIG. 14. The depth of channel 84 is deeper than thedepth of channel 82 so that a tool place in channel 82 will cross over atool placed in channel 80 allowing the tools to be stored in a stackedarrangement. FIG. 15 shows the long reach tools 7 through 11 placed inthe base. The tools as illustrated in FIG. 2, namely 8, 10 and 11 areshown loaded into the cascading channels 70, 71 and 72 of the base asshown in FIG. 15. Further, tool 7 is placed in channel 82 and tool 9 isplaced in channel 84. In the channel arrangement as shown in FIG. 14,the handle portion sits over the rods 8, 9 and 11 placed in the partialcascading channels. The long reach tools can therefore be stored in aconvenient compact stacking arrangement.

FIG. 16 shows both the lid 30 and base 34 of the tool case 20. Anadditional cavity 90 is arranged in the base inner panel to receivewedge tools which wedges are illustrated in FIG. 2 and designated byreference numerals 12 and 13. FIG. 16 shows the combination of channelsand cavities of one possible embodiment of the invention that inparticular may house the vehicle unlocking tools illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2. FIG. 16 a, a cross-sectional view of the tool case shown in FIG.16, more clearly shows the depths of the various channels and cavitieswhich allows for the compact stacking of many tools and items ofdifferent configurations. FIG. 16 also shows the shield 6 and theowner's booklet 5 stored in the lid cavity 66 and shield 15 stored inthe base cavity 80.

FIG. 17 illustrates one possible assembled tool kit arrangement, withthe tool box 20 loaded with the vehicle unlocking tools illustrated inFIG. 2. These particular vehicle unlocking tools illustrated arecommonly known as the long reach tools. The long rod tools are assembledwhen needed and provide an arrangement of tools that may open a varietyof vehicles. An owner's booklet is added to the tool kit and stored inthe lid cavity 66 which aids the operator in the use of the tools. FIG.18 illustrates another possible assembled tool kit arrangement. In thisexample, the tool box lid 30 and base 34 are loaded with the vehicleunlocking tools illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This tool kit would allowan operator to open a large variety of vehicle model from old to new.All tools are conveniently assembled and carried in a relatively smalltool case 20.

While the present invention has been described in regards to a preferredembodiment, it is understood that various modifications may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention as identified in the appended claims. For example, whilecertain channels and cavities have been described to exemplify theinvention, various number of channels and cavities of different sizes,shapes and configurations are contemplated by the invention.Furthermore, while vehicle unlocking tool have been illustrated above,the principles of the invention apply to other tool types as well.

1. An arrangement for storing a plurality of selected tools, comprising:a case half having an inner surface area with first and second channelstherein, the first and second channels sized and shaped for eachreceiving a selected tool, the first and second channels crossing atleast once and the first channel having a first depth and the secondchannel having a second depth deeper than the first channel such that aselected tool placed in the first channel will overlie a selected toolplaced in the second channel where the first and second channel cross.2. The arrangement for storing a plurality of selected tools as claimedin claim 1 further comprising a third channel which crosses the secondchannel at least once and has a third depth which is less than thesecond depth of the second channel such that a selected tool placed inthe third channel overlies a selected tool placed in the second channelwhere the second and third channel cross.
 3. The arrangement for storinga plurality of selected tools as claimed in claim 1 wherein the firstand second channels are rectangularly shaped.
 4. The arrangement forstoring a plurality of selected tools as claimed in claim 3 wherein thefirst and second channels have pairs of cooperatively inwardlyprotruding tabs for retaining a selected tool placed therein.
 5. Thearrangement for storing a plurality of selected tools as claimed inclaim 4 wherein the case half inner surface portion is made of moldedplastic.
 6. The arrangement for storing a plurality of selected tools asclaimed in claim 2 further including a fourth channel sized and shapedfor receiving a selected tool, the fourth channel crossing the thirdchannel at least once and the fourth channel having a fourth depth whichis deeper than the third depth of the third channel such that a selectedtool placed in the third channel will over a selected tool placed in thefourth channel where they cross.
 7. The arrangement for storing aplurality of selected tools as claimed in claim 1 further including arecessed cavity that intersects the second channel and has a depthdeeper than the second depth of the second channel so that an objectplaced in the cavity will sit under a selected tool placed in the secondchannel.
 8. The arrangement for storing a plurality of selected tools asclaimed in claim 7 wherein the cavity intersects the first and secondchannels.
 9. The arrangement for storing a plurality of tools as claimedin claim 8 wherein the recessed cavity has a rectangular shape with aflat bottom.
 10. The arrangement for storing a plurality of selectedtools as claimed in claim 1 further having a cavity with an elongatedsloping side wall, the side wall having two parallel spaced apart rodreceiving channels.
 11. The arrangement for storing a plurality of toolsas claimed in claim 10 wherein the rod receiving channels have short rodgriping portions for securing rod shaped tool in the spaced apart rodreceiving channels.
 12. A tool case for storing a plurality of tools forunlocking vehicles, comprising: a case having two closeable sides, eachside having an inner panel, which inner panel each have a number of toolreceiving cavities, wherein two of the cavities in one of the sidescross are at different depths so that a tool placed in one of the twocavities in part overlies a tool placed in the other of the twocavities.
 13. The tool case as claimed in claim 12 wherein the at leastone of the two cavities is an elongated channel.
 14. The tool case asclaimed in claim 13 wherein the at least one elongated channel isrectangularly shaped.
 15. The tool case as claimed in claim 14 whereinone of the sides further has a recessed rectangularly shaped flat bottomcavity sized and shaped for receiving a rectangularly shaped planaritem, the recessed rectangularly shaped flat bottom cavity is positionedin the path of the elongated channel.
 16. The tool case as claimed inclaim 15 wherein the recessed tray has a number of protruding tabs sizedand shaped for retaining an object placed in the tray.
 17. The tool caseas claimed in claim 16 wherein the recessed rectangularly shaped flatbottom cavity has a sloping side wall with rod gripping members.
 18. Acase for storing a variety of selected vehicle unlocking tools,comprising: a base retractably coupled to the lid, the base having aninner cavity formed therein with a side wall with downwardly angled wallportions, the angled wall portions having two pairs of spaced apart rodgrips for snapping engaging and retaining two rods in parallelarrangement.
 19. The case for storing a variety of selected vehicleunlocking tools as claimed in claim 18 further having a third pair ofspaced apart rod grips, the three pairs of rod grips arranged in linedown the inner cavity wall.
 20. The case for storing a variety ofselected vehicle unlocking tools as claimed in claim 19 wherein the baseis made of molded plastic.